Sussex County 4-H Weekly Challenge

This week in a photo, or drawing share with us your family pet(s). Post your responses under Sussex County Facebook post of our weekly challenge or email them to patrie@njaes.rutgers.edu to be counted.  And don’t forget to hashtag them #SussexCounty4HWklyChallange and @SussexNJ4H.

Lets see those 4-H pets!

At the end of the week, one winner will be chosen and win a 2021 Teen Council Dairy Barn gift certificate. All entries must be submitted by 4:30 pm on Friday to count. and only one entry person per week.

Congrats to last week’s winner Summer Blossoms/Love on a Leash Leader Deb Brodecker! Her favorite quarantine memory so far is how Love on a Leash 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Club members have reached out to the community. Here are a few of the cards we made and collected for the residents at Bristol Glen. Most of them had puppy pics included–trying to share the puppy love.


4-H From Home Webinars

http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/4h-from-home/

Join NJ 4-H Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 3:00 PM EST for their 4‑H From Home Interactive Webinars! During each webinar, youth will have the opportunity to participate in interactive hands-on activities, where they will learn about healthy living, science, technology, service, the arts, and more! Each interactive webinar focuses on a different topic. Most webinars are geared to youth in grades 4–8. Youth do not need to be 4‑H members to participate. Registration is required and space is limited.

Have an idea for a webinar and/or interested in hosting one. Share your thoughts with the 4‑H From Home team at 4hFromHome@njaes.rutgers.edu.


4-H Animal Science Resource Blog Contest

Current participating clubs don’t forget to participate in this week’s (Week #6) activities to earn up to 5 points for your club for each activity you complete.


Vote for Your Favorite
Animal Video

NJ 4-H 2020 Animal Science
Video Contest and Film Festival

Don’t forget to go view the videos submitted to the 2020 New Jersey 4-H Animal Science Film Festival.

Included in the 10 videos entered is one from our very own Kicken’ Chickens 4-H poultry club. They are in the top 4 videos selected from this year.

So pop some popcorn and have a family viewing night and then go vote for your favorite! (Which will be Kicken’ Chickens of course.)

The clubs of the top four videos and the audience’s favorite will receive gift cards to support their 4-H activities. Enjoy the videos! Voting ends May 31.


Middlesex County 4-H clubs and leaders are sponsoring a virtual series open to the public.  Registration is required to get the login information.  https://forms.gle/WMRFTCfGp9z1Jq9V7


The USA Science & Engineering Festival is taking it’s X-STEM Conference virtual!
And you’re invited.

May 18 -19 from 1-2 pm EST

X-STEM All Access – presented by AstraZeneca – is an engaging, entertaining, educational, and interactive online STEM experience for 6-12th graders.  Through a series of daily livestream events, students will hear from an exclusive group of visionaries who aim to empower and inspire kids about careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Moderator, Justin Shaifer (Mr. Fascinate), will take kids on a STEM adventure that is anything but boring with a new set of engaging speakers, brain breaks, and Q&A’s each day. 

Monday, May 18, 2020
Science that Saves Lives with medical oncologist and drug discoverer Dr. Mika Sovak and neuroscientist Dr. Greg Gage. Plus – special guest appearance by infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci and NIH Director Dr. Franci Collins.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Life Beyond our World with NASA Astronaut Christina H. Koch and Aerospace Systems Engineer Bobak Ferdowsi. Plus – special guest appearance by NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir.

To register go to:
https://usasciencefestival.org/x-stem-all-access/

Calling all garden and crafter enthusiasts!


Purina Giving Greatness Scholarship

Graduating seniors are the future of the show industry, and Purina is investing in their future with their new Giving Greatness Scholarship! One winner from each species – cattle, swine, goat and sheep – will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship to use towards furthering their education.

Interested? Here’s how to apply:
· Follow this link: https://bit.ly/35sG4gz
· Fill out personal information
· Thoroughly answer essay questions
· Submit!

The application is open until Tuesday, June 30, so think through your answers and tell Purina what the stock show world means to you.


Shout out to Clubs and 4-H Members who make the best better!

In 4-H, we pledge our HANDS to larger SERVICE. While at home, some have still fulfilled their commitment to service in many ways.

All-Star Rabbits 4H Club was unable to make their annual Easter visit to Bentley Manor to share their rabbits and small animals with the residents due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so the club decided to send lunch for the staff at Bentley instead.


Information and Programs For Our 4-H Parents and Leaders

Simple Tips and Safety Information for 4-H Leaders Using Zoom™

While Zoom™ technology is a fairly simple, user-friendly virtual meeting platform for 4-H, we are aware this and
other video conferencing platforms can be subject to hacking, and requires specific features to allow it to adhere to
4-H Youth Protection Policies. While Zoom has been working diligently to tighten up safety features, please review the link below for important guidelines for you to follow in carrying out safe, appropriate Zoom club meetings with your 4-H members.

https://www.sussex4h.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Zoom-Safety-Checklist-for-4-H-Leaders.pdf


2020 NJSF/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show is Canceled

We are sure this is not new news at this point just want to be sure that all are aware. 4-H programming had already been suspended from participating back in April. You can find the official Fair release here: http://www.sussexcountyfairgrounds.org/html/announcements.cfm

Mark your calendar now for the 2021 NJ State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show for August 7th to August 14th, 2021


NJAES Home, Lawn, and Garden website

https://njaes.rutgers.edu/home-lawn-garden/

NJAES has many resources to support the new and experienced gardener. To assist you with inquiries being received across extension, the NJAES Home, Lawn, and Garden website has been redesigned to make resources more accessible to those we serve.  In addition to information on how to design a garden and select/grow plants, important nutrition and wellness information, and resources for engaging children in gardening are also provided. 

And don’t forget, if you have any questions, the Rutgers Master Gardener program with over 3,000 volunteers all across NJ, is ready to assist you in all your gardening needs. For a complete listing of all our outreach events and webinars, please be sure to visit the NJAES Calendar.


Rutgers Earth Day at Home Webinar Series

May 18, 2020
Reducing Food Waste
Thirty to forty percent of all food produced in the US is wasted. This talk will define food waste, its environmental impacts, and will provide tips for reducing food waste at home. Amy Rowe, Associate Professor/ County Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex/ Passaic Counties.

May 26, 2020 (Tuesday)
Reducing Plastic Waste
Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans. Learn about the impact plastic is having on our environment and the steps you can take to reduce plastic waste in your home.Casey Lippincott, NJDEP Watershed Ambassador

To register or for more information visit
https://envirostewards.rutgers.edu/EarthDayatHome2020.html


“Ask the Ag Agent”

Weekly 1-hour sessions for farmers, will be hosted on Wednesdays starting April 15th and continue each Wednesday. The online conferencing/call-in events will begin at 7:00PM with an open forum to discuss ag-related questions about production, marketing, regulations, and any other topics farmers wish to discuss. All are welcome!  To access via WebEx on a computer go to https://go.rutgers.edu/rc9n3kxt
To join by phone +1-650-429-3300 USA Toll
Access code: 799 743 872


Online Beekeeping Workshops

Sustainable Beekeeping
June 9, 2020
This one-hour webinar will discuss ways to maintain your beehives in a more sustainable way, minimizing losses through management, using local bee stocks, and creating resource hives.

Small Scale Queen Rearing
June 16, 2020
This workshop covers queen and drone biology, stock selection, introduction to several queen rearing techniques, tools, and equipment, starter and finisher hives, setting up mating yards, and record keeping.

Visit our webpage at: www.cpe.rutgers.edu/BEES to learn more! 


Sussex County
4-H Class of 2020
Senior Spotlight

Kassidy Little

Kassidy Little will be a graduate from High Point Regional HS. She is currently the Co- President of All Star Rabbits, which she has been a member of since third grade. Before All Star rabbits she was a member for 2 years of Cow Kids. Kassidy is a member of National Art Honors Society, Pass it Along, and Student Council.

 She has played Field Hockey and Softball  for High Point  since her Freshman year. She will be attending Sussex County Community college in the fall majoring as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Kya Savva

Kya is a senior at Sussex County Technical School studying in the Welding program, she will be receiving her AWS SENSE certification which includes her SMAW, OFC/PAC Certifications along with her OSHA 10. She intends on continuing her education at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Ohio.

Kya is a loving older sister and an amazing role model. She is always looking for the good in others and willing to help in anyway possible. 

Kya has been an active member of 4-H since she was in the 4th grade. She is also a member of the Spanish National Honors Society. Kya has persevered through so much during her high school career from losing classmates & friends, to bullying, and now this pandemic. 

Congrats to Our
2020 Graduating
4-H Members!

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